Using a dial pad mounted on the machine, students punch in their birthdates and lunch account numbers, and then make a meal selection. Meals cost $1.50 at the full-price rate, 30 cents at the reduced rate and is free to students who are under free-lunch status. Meal purchases are credited to student lunch accounts.

A transparent plastic door pops open and students grab meals. The machine can hold up to 96 meals at a time.

“Time wise,” Littleton said, “our kids can get what they need and get to class if they come in late. They still can get their nutrition. Anything you can do in that regard is a good thing.”

Using a dial pad mounted on the machine, students punch in their birthdates and lunch account numbers, and then make a meal selection. Meals cost $1.50 at the full-price rate, 30 cents at the reduced rate and is free to students who are under free-lunch status. Meal purchases are credited to student lunch accounts.

A transparent plastic door pops open and students grab meals. The machine can hold up to 96 meals at a time.

“Time wise,” Littleton said, “our kids can get what they need and get to class if they come in late. They still can get their nutrition. Anything you can do in that regard is a good thing.”

Breakfast at the cafeteria closes at the ringing of the first bell at 8:05 a.m. and a breakfast cart is stationed at the bus depot until about 8:40 a.m. Breakfast is available at the vending machine until 10:30 a.m.

According to Chartwells’ representatives, breakfast meal purchases have increased by 25 meals on average since the program started in October, when the vending machine was first used at the school.

Besides speedy service, the machine allows the food service company to market items students wouldn’t normally choose by pairing them together with popular items. For example, cereal — unpopular — is packaged with graham crackers.

A 6-ounce parfait — flavored yogurt sitting on fruit and topped with Honey Nut Cheerios — is the most popular meal in the machine.

“High school students are more selective and health conscious,” said Julio Narvaez, resident district manager at Chartwells.

By using the vending machine, he added, Chartwells is marketing healthy meals in a creative way.

The vending machine was purchased with a state grant, and each meal meets USDA guidelines for full reimbursable meals, meaning the school district will get compensated for each meal sold.

Bay District Schools privatized food service with Chartwells last year and renewed its contract this year. Under the contract, Chartwells guarantees to pay the district $750,000 if the district doesn’t generate at least that amount with its food service. In its first year with Chartwells, the district made about $920,000.

Chartwells’ goal in piloting the machine at Mosley is to show the district the benefits of express meals, Narvaez said, noting he’d like to see a vending machine at all high schools and meal selections expand to lunch and snacks.

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